Nuclear Shutdown News chronicles the decline and fall of the nuclear industry in the US and abroad, and highlights the efforts of those who are working to create a nuclear free world. Here is our May 2017 report:

Nuclear Shutdown News chronicles the decline and fall of the US nuclear power industry at home and abroad, and highlights the efforts of those who are fighting to create a nuclear free future. Here is our May issue:

Considering that EBALDC had a fund balance of $22,884,524 during 2014, it appears that EBALDC, a so-called nonprofit housing developer, may be sucking it’s buildings dry financially with it’s general and administration fees, property management fees, repairs and maintenance fees, developer fees, and other charges it uses to collect huge sums of money from its many buildings and properties.

In a temporary emergency measure, the Eugene city council is allowing homeless persons to camp "dusk to dawn" on city property until March 31, 2016. The strength of a society is measured in how it treats the weakest.
LA, Portland and the rest of the US could learn from Eugene!

Oakland has the second fastest-rising rents in the nation, passing the pace of San Francisco’s rent increases, and coming in second behind the rent increases occurring in Denver. The rents in Oakland have climbed over 12.1 percent since 2014. Slumlords, greedy landlords, profiteers, speculators, and nefarious realtors reign supreme in Oakland, who are protected by local and state politicians that are in the pockets, of big money!

For the 15th year marking International Women’s Day in Southern California, on March 8th a warm and sunny Saturday, a mixed race and enthusiastic crowd of approximately 450 women, men, quite a lot of young people, and lots of children gathered for a free concert and speakout at the MacArthur Park Band Shell in Los Angeles.

Rent Control may be diluted and rents increased if CC Parks get's his strange way. He often acts as a dissenter but this time [maybe again] it is AGAINST the Renters of his city of LA. Ex-police chief wants to gouge renters so they pay for landowners' expenses for earthquake prevention, that should already be paid thru yearly Rental Increases every single year, regardless of individual improvements made on apartments. UNIFY and LEARN MORE to not allow this proposal to City Council to gain any momentum. [and see other good article w/info here @ Indy that lists City Council members' contact info to immediately start ACTING IN ALL OUR city residents' behalf. NOW !

In one of comedian Chris Rock’s routines, he observes: “You know what that means when someone pays you a minimum wage? You know what your boss is trying to say? ‘Hey, if I could pay you less, I would, but it’s against the law.’”

August 17 was a hot Saturday. North East Radical Neighbors for Peace through Justice (NELA Rad) set up their weekly protest, at Eagle Rock and Colorado Boulevards, at 2pm. They set out their signs, the standards: Pledge of Allegiance to the Earth, Afghanistan: Graveyard of Empires, and Peace is not simply the Absence of Violence... to name a few. Smartly, they set up a shade awning, and broke out snacks, water bottles, a table and chairs. While this group usually addresses what they refer to as “Peace through Justice, and all the related issues,” this weekend they were focused on “Global Warming, and all the related issues.”

The L.A. Municipal Code 41.18 (d) remains an easy way for police to criminalize homeless individuals and make their lives more difficult than they already are, resulting in the U.S. 9th Circuit Court to rule in their "Jones vs. City of L.A." case that this code violates the U.S. Constitution's 8th Amendment (No cruel and unusual punishment). Certain officers issue citations to people arbitrarily without providing ANY time for individuals to comply.

Between sequestration, with its damaging impact on workers and the entire economy, and the billions of dollars in cuts to Social Security, Medicare and other necessary social programs that President Obama is pushing, it is evident that the economic policies of both major parties are not intended to promote a recovery for working people. You cannot lift up a nation’s economy while slashing away at its consumers’ pocketbooks. In order to justify their defiance of this elementary law, both Republicans and Democrats start talking the language of “austerity,” that is the notion that economic policy must be guided by reducing budgetary deficits first and foremost, and that workers exclusively must be made to pay the cost.

Protest and educational outreach continues in Canada, the U.S., and other countries concerning pending bills and projects that would be a major assault both on indigenous people and the environment. In Canada, Bill C-45 would unilaterally alter treaties with First Nations people, drastically effect lands and waterways on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border, and reduce jobs for all Canadians. In the U.S., the proposed XL pipeline would have devastating effects on aquifers and wetlands if there was ever a leak. The Indigenous movement, Idle No More, now several months old, has been ignored by the mainstream media.

LA City is being lobbied to Ban our useful plastic bags for secret reasons not stated. Public meetings are barely made available to comment, pro or con. We are being hoodwinked by paid consultants and those who have unrevealed gains by pushing us into paying MORE for our recycled-daily-use-plastic-bags. Stop the secrecy and the manipulation of the People of LA now !

Ron Gochez: Life Story of a City Council Candidate from South Central, High School Teacher, and Community Organizer born to an undocumented mother who fled civil war in El Salvador.
33 Minutes Audio/Photography

Tap machines set by MTA in rail stations have confusing & frustrating too little info and options. Sr. rates not shown or flick off, Tap card only good for 1 day, has fixed $$$ amts to add fares, LACK OF any real ASSISTANCE or clarity in how to use them plastic cards -
so have we turned into robotized plastic obedients who overpay, cant communicate with metal machines, and are Tapped OUT of metro-rail use ? NOT in big LA, but it is !
Someone fix it quick or we'll be locked out of our humanity and intelligent responsiveness and responsibilities too. Tap cards are not a helpful solution required to transport in LA -
MTA listen up ! .... but have they ever ?

Over the strong objection of constituents, Eric Garcetti (district 13) approved a rezoning of land, part of a wildlife corridor in Echo Park-Elysian Park, from three to 15 houses and gave developers special permission to cut down 40 protected trees. Garcetti's environmental legacy also includes siding with developer Ralph Horowitz and Councilwoman Jan Perry regarding the South Central Farm. Twenty years ago, another pro-development Councilmember, Michael Woo, ran for Mayor--as Garcetti is now doing--but was opposed by a formidable group called Citizens for Anyone but Woo. Hopefully 2012/2013 will see Anyone but Garcetti.

Take Action...The City Council of Sacramento, California, is scheduled to vote on adopting Ashkelon, Israel as a Sister City on August 14th.
Given Israel’s continued policy of killing and displacing Palestinians and illegally confiscating their land, the Capital of California, Sacramento, should not be used as a stamp of approval for these policies.

Unless the Mayor stops it, Occupy Los Angeles is going to get beat down by Chief Charlie's demons on Thursday for writing with chalk on the sidewalks, all at taxpayer expense, all because Occupy Los Angeles spurned the Democrats who run the city.

The predominantly Queer San Diego Democrats for Equality heard a presentation July 26 from "Paradise Plundered" author Vladimir Kogan. The book, co-written with professors Steven P. Erie and Scott A. MacKenzie, argues that San Diegans have long wanted their city government to do far more in services than they're willing to pay for in taxes -- and recently they and the politicians seeking to lead the city, most notably Right-wing Queer Mayoral front-runner Carl DeMaio, have been scapegoating city workers and their unions for the city's pension crisis and other financial shortfalls.

The predominantly Queer San Diego Democrats for Equality turned their June 28 meeting into a love-fest for their candidates who survived the June 5 primary and moved on to the November 6 general election. In the first test of their new policy against endorsing or rating candidates who aren't 100 percent for marriage equality or reproductive choice, they also refused to consider an endorsement or a rating for socially conservative Democrat Juan Vargas for Congress in the 51st District.

Boardwalk Bathrooms -a shame for any city called Venice Having gone to Boardwalk this weekend, we were confronted with just how disgusting the bathrooms and their lack of availability actually is and has been for a while. It's Very UNSANITARY !

The hottest issue on the June 5 ballot in San Diego is Proposition B, the public pension "reform" initiative sponsored by openly Queer Right-wing City Councilmember and Mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio. It would freeze all city workers' pay for five years and abolish the city's pension system for new hires, replacing it with a 401(k)-style plan. The product of a decade-long propaganda campaign by the radical Right politicians and media, it's expected to pass easily — but the predominantly Queer San Diego Democrats for Equality, after hearing a debate on it, unanimously voted to oppose it at their April 26 meeting.

Allegedly Progressive and openly Gay Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl may go down in history as the most divisive leader Venice has ever had by continuously organizing with and siding with people who hate the poor and homeless people of Venice.

The recent decision by the NV State Engineer to support the SNWA's proposed pipeline follows the same tactics used by San Fernando Valley developers who removed water from Owens Lake and Valley by using deception and purchasing land and favors from government officials.

Take a walk down the Venice Boardwalk and be surprised ! the re-sale cheap commercial merchandise is not long proliferating and crowding the area with hawkers and flea-market-junk being the main things there. Now all sorts of art and artists are the west-sidewalk displays. What a change !

The San Diego Democrats for Equality, a predominantly Queer Democratic party club, decisively rejected the Congressional candidacy of progressive former Assemblymember Lori Saldaña at its regular meeting January 26. Instead they endorsed moderate Scott Peters on the ground that he'd be a better "fit" for the district, could raise more money and would have a better shot at unseating Republican incumbent Brian Bilbray.

Various people said that Jan Perry was using the ancient "divide and conquer" strategy and that she succeeded in dividing the community in and around 41st and Alameda. Both Perry and Eric Garcetti (District 13), who presided over the meeting, are planning to run for mayor. It seems unlikely that LA will have a decent mayor within our lifetimes, but a Mayor Perry or a Mayor Garcetti would be one more major injustice.

Tomorrow morning, October 15, City Council is scheduled to vote on Jan Perry's proposal that would release developer Ralph Horowitz of the 2.6-acre green space requirement and make it easier for him to sell the property. And so the future of the 14-acre plot of land, at 41st and Alameda is once again under dispute. Previously the site of the famous South Central Farm, once known as the largest urban farm in the country, if the not world, the land has become the most disputed plot of real-estate in the city. (At the time of its demolition circa 2006, there was a massive community mobilization to save it, and the goal of the farmers to reclaim the land has not died.)

On Tuesday at 8:00 a.m., the South Central Farmers, their supporters, and the residents of the Central-Alameda neighborhood will confront the Los Angeles City Council in its chambers one more time to try to save the Farm and save the neighborhood. in the unlikely event they succeed, they might save the City.

In spite of some people's best efforts, OccupyLA has managed to re-create all the ills of the society we purport to change, right down to the do-gooders who want to tweak our system to make the problems less visible.

The predominantly Queer San Diego Democrats for Equality (formerly the San Diego Democratic Club) held their first regular meeting since the name change October 27 and overwhelmingly endorsed Occupy San Diego. The strongly worded resolution, based on one passed by the San Diego County Democratic Party, not only supported Occupy's right to protest and camp out in the Civic Center Plaza downtown but also ringingly endorsed the group's challenge to corporate power. The club also endorsed progressive Congressmember Bob Filner for Mayor of San Diego in the 2012 election.

After 90+ minutes of open discussion, City Council’s Budget and Finance Committee unanimously approved Councilwoman Jan Perry's proposal and made the announcement quickly and quietly. Perry was not present herself but filled the room with residents of the low-income housing project Pueblo Del Rio (who were bused in and treated to a free lunch) and employees of PIMA, the company which hopes to develop the entire property. The measure will now be reintroduced to the full City Council, probably in mid-November. The South Central Farm is calling on Angelinos to contact their City Council members (contact info. at the bottom of this article).

"Democracy Now!" co-host Juan Gonzalez spoke in San Diego October 24 as part of a whirlwind tour in support of his new book, "News for All the People: The Epic Story of Race and the American Media." He made two main points in his talk: that there are three "strains" of American media — the corporate mainstream, the white alternative or "rebel" press, and media owned and controlled by people of color; and that since the 1840's the U.S. government has regulated every technological change in the media in a way that favors the interests of giant corporations over ordinary people.

Thanks to a member who asked that all so-called "friendly incumbent" endorsements be pulled for further discussion, the three incumbent San Diego City Councilmembers who attended the September 22 meeting of the predominantly Queer San Diego Democrats for Equality (formerly the San Diego Democratic Club) ? Todd Gloria, Marti Emerald and Sherri Lightner ? found themselves on the spot. Instead of just showing up to receive their endorsements and thank the club, they spoke to the group on such controversial issues like the city's budget and pension problems, historical preservation and the influence of wealthy people like Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs on plans for Balboa Park.

LA City Parks Dept had a meeting to draft or discuss a new ordinance about changing the crass commercial junk being sold on Venice Beach. But who could find out where or when the meeting was held ? Could it be intentional that the outreach was limited or non existent even to those who WANTED to attend, to comment, to question their tax-paid decision-makers?

Fullerton City Council votes (under fear of lawsuit by Chevron?) to allow Chevron to develop West Coyote Hills with more suburban sprawl. However, the last bit of ecosystem in northern Orange County can still be saved, Friends of Coyote Hills have a referendum to oppose the city council vote and needs your signature!

Venice Boardwalk has been a big loss to the City- how it is seen by Los Angeles' tourist crowds, and to LA's own image as an artistic or art-supportive environment. Commercial vending of cheap re-sale-mdse. bought at any local wholesaler while using City sidewalk free spaces ruins any art scene. City Council doing a draft that looks bad so far.

The Farmers defend the last vestige of the Farm against City and development. Join them Thursday morning, 8:00 a.m., at the Port of Los Angeles Administration Building, 425 S. Palos Verdes St., San Pedro, CA 90731

San Diego?s Queer community has split over their response to the redrawing of district lines for the City Council. On one side are the members of the self-styled ?LGBT Redistricting Task Force,? who are pushing a major redesign of the city?s Queer-influenced District 3, pushing out the people of color and less affluent Queers in City Heights and adding more upscale neighborhoods like Mission Hills and Bankers? Hill to the Hillcrest/North Park core of the district. On the other side are Queer residents of the City Heights community of Azalea Park, who bought there because gentrification had priced them out of Hillcrest and North Park and now find themselves threatened that they will no longer be represented by a Queer Councilmember. The current District 3 is San Diego?s most ethnically diverse; the district proposed by the LGBT Redistricting Task Force and the Hillcrest Town Council will be 70 percent white.

Two multimillionaires, Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs and hedge-fund CEO Rod Dammeyer, are sponsoring an initiative called “San Diegans 4 Great Schools” to add four non-elected members to the board of the San Diego Unified School District. The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club debated this initiative March 24 and passed a motion urging voters not to sign to put it on the ballot. Among their concerns were the potential dilution of voter input on the school board, the presence of the president of Roman Catholic Church-owned University of San Diego on the panel of nine people making the appointments, and the ways paid signature gatherers routinely lie about what initiatives will do in order to get people to sign them. The club heard from Scott Himmelmeyer, USD employee and spokesperson for the initiative, as well as current school board president Richard Barrera speaking for and against it, respectively.

Michael Sol, Leatherman extraordinaire and candidate for Mr. Los Angeles Leather this weekend (March 26-27), is giving a demonstration of the Japanese rope bondage art, shibari, at the Joyce Beers Community Center, Vermont Street between Terra and Aladdin Restaurants in Hillcrest, Friday, April 1 at 7 p.m. at an event sponsored by the San Diego League of Gentlemen. In this interview, published in the April 2011 issue of Zenger's Newsmagazine, Sol talks extensively about his interests in Leather and so-called "edge play," and the distinction he draws between romantic intimacy and power exchanges. He also discusses the thin line between exercise and martial art, and between consensual S/M and the kinds of torture practiced on unwilling victims in places like Abu Ghraib.

East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC), one of Oakland's largest non profit housing developers, places low-income renters at risk of high rents or displacement by borrowing $2.5 million to renovate the 21 unit building they reside in!

California State Assemblymember Toni Atkins spoke to the predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club February 24 and warned of two approaching deadlines coming up in the state legislature's budget deliberations: March 6, the ending of the special budget session called by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; and March 10, the last day the legislature can vote to call a special election to extend the current state sales tax rates and vehicle licensing fees so that current Governor Jerry Brown's budget, which calls for $12.5 billion in spending cuts, can be enacted. Without that — and so far the Republican minority in the legislature has held firm to block any vote on the tax issue, which requires support from 2/3 of both houses of the legislature even to make it to the ballot — Brown and the Democratic majority will have to make $12.5 billion more in spending cuts, which will virtually end California state spending on health and welfare and eviscerate the state's already underfunded education system.

Openly Gay County Supervisor candidate Stephen Whitburn made an impassioned plea for help in the last five days before the election at the October 28 meeting of the predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club, of which he used to be president. Whitburn talked about the barrage of nasty hit-mail pieces Republican campaign groups are sending out against him at the last minute but also said that's an indication that they don't have a grass-roots campaign. Whitburn is seeking to become the first Democrat to serve on the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in 16 years.

The campaign over Proposition D — an attempt to raise the sales tax in San Diego one-half cent to avoid draconian cuts in police, fire and other city services — has made strange bedfellows. Former city attorney Mike Aguirre, an otherwise progressive Democrat, has made common cause with Right-wing talk radio hosts and anti-tax zealots in opposing the measure. He and progressive City Councilmember Donna Frye debated Prop. D at the September 23 meeting of the predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club — which overwhelmingly voted to endorse the measure.

Rival City Councilmembers Todd Gloria and Carl DeMaio — the first two openly Gay men elected to the San Diego City Council — spoke at the Hillcrest Town Council September 14 and debated Proposition D on the November 2 ballot. This would allow the city to raise its sales tax one-half cent for five years to plug the $72 billion hole in its current budget — but only after the city implements 10 “reforms” reducing its pension obligations to workers and making it easier to privatize city jobs. But even in Gloria’s relatively liberal district, the polite but hostile response from the audience made it clear the measure will be a tough sell to city voters.

The July 16 San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender pride rally, which opened the city's weekend of Pride events, revealed the deep-seated divisions within the Queer community over President Obama and the proper way of organizing. Stuart Milk, nephew of Queer martyr Harvey Milk, said he'd attended a meeting at the White House at which Obama endorsed virtually the entire agenda of the Queer rights movement — but Fresno-based activist Robin McGehee said that doesn't matter. McGehee and San Diego Transgender activist Autumn Sandeen, who joined together for a direct-action campaign against the White House over Obama's failure to seek repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that keeps openly Queer people from serving in the U.S. military, said that the Queer community should use nonviolent civil disobedience to confront Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate majority leader Harry Reid and other Democratic politicians who aren't delivering on their promises to the Queer community.

June 15, 2010 — The City of Costa Mesa passed a resolution labeling itself a "Rule of Law City" against the undocumented immigrants! Costa Mesa has declared war on our community!
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has provided the city an ICE agent in their local jail to deport anyone without the "proper documentation". How can we help the police if we don't trust them? Our families will be torn apart and we cannot let that happen!
The city has no jurisdiction on laws related to immigration, but yet the City Council has made of its city a smaller version of Arizona with the same harmful consequences on the people of Costa Mesa!
*** This protest was organized by the people of Costa Mesa***

Prevent Venice parking permit and vehicle height restrictions proposed implementation on public streets. Keep Venice free for all members of our community. Current settlement of anti-homeless group does not represent the majority of Venice. Venice is love. Love is free. Keep Venice Free.

City Council made tenants wait over five hours before declining to vote on a moratorium against rent increases.When tenants voiced their anger, frustration and disappointment by chanting loudly in Council Chambers, Acting President Dennis Zine ordered Los Angeles Police Department to remove tenants from council. About 30 LAPD officers began roughly forcing tenants out of Council chambers.

The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club overwhelmingly opposed continuing San Diego's experiment with strong-mayor government. At their April 22 meeting they voted to oppose Proposition D on the June 8 ballot, which would make strong-mayor permanent, add a ninth seat to the City Councll and raise the threshold to override a mayoral veto of a Council action from a simple majority to two-thirds. City Councilmember Donna Frye led the debate against strong-mayor; having served under both strong-mayor and San Diego's previous city-manager system, she said it's been harder for her as a Councilmember to hold the mayor accountable and get information she needs to make responsible decisions, to the point where she's had to sue the city, or threaten to, to get needed data from the mayor's office.

Stephen Whitburn, openly Gay candidate for the Fourth Supervisorial District in San Diego County, held a fundraiser for his campaign Sunday, March 28 at the Bamboo Lounge in Hillcrest. Despite vicious attacks from supposedly “progressive” media outlets in both the straight and Queer communities, the event was a success, drawing more than 50 people who roared their support for Whitburn's opposition to the proposed Merriam Mountains development — a plan to blast off the tops of mountains to build houses on them — and the practice of Supervisors to accept gifts from individuals, organizations and corporations who directly benefit from the Board's decisions.

The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club made a surprising choice in the June 8 Democratic primary for lieutenant governor. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom became a nationwide hero to the Queer community in February 2004 when he unilaterally ordered city officials to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples, but the club rejected him in favor of Los Angeles City Councilmember Janice Hahn. Members’ concerns about Newsom included his less than progressive stands on economic issues, his notoriously messy personal life, his potentially rocky relationship with presumed Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jerry Brown, and the risks of going into a statewide election with two white men at the top of the ticket against likely Republican nominees Meg Whitman for governor and Abel Maldonado for lieutenant governor.

On Saturday, March 13, about 150 mothers, grandmothers, women who are not mothers, children, and men, came out for the Mothers March and Speak Out in Los Angeles. This was an International Women’s Day event called by the Global Women’s Strike and Women of Color/GWS.

The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club revealed itself dramatically split in the Democratic primary race for the 79th Assembly District. City Council president Ben Hueso is running a classic “insider” campaign, relying on major endorsements and fundraising clout. His principal challenger, Sweetwater Union High School District board member Pearl Quiñones, is seeking the office in a progressive grass-roots campaign in the tradition of Assemblymember Lori Saldaña (who endorses her) and City Councilmember Donna Frye. The club was unable to reach the 60 percent threshold needed for an endorsement, and ultimately voted to rate both candidates “acceptable.”

As a result of a plea deal, Baltimore’s Mayor Sheila Dixon will leave office, on Feb. 4, 2010. She was recently found guilty of stealing $530 worth of gift cards intended “for the poor.” Before the ink was dry on the agreement, however, Dixon’s ex-crony, the former mayor, and now Maryland Governor, Martin O’Malley, was pretending that she no longer existed. Appropriately, the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre said, “Hell is other people.”

Baltimore’s Mayor Sheila Dixon was convicted on Dec. 1, 2009, by a jury of her peers, of stealing gift cards, worth about $525, intended for the “poor and needy.” As a result, she will forfeit her office, lose her $83,000 a year pension, and could go to jail. Her crime paled in significance to the massive wrongdoings of the Wall Street Mob, but, the State Prosecutor underscored to the jury: The Mayor was stealing “from the children of Baltimore!”

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa appointed Ed Boks as the Director of Animal Services even though Boks had been fired from his two previous jobs for poor performance. After many, many mistakes and costly lawsuits the Mayor continued to stand by his appointment. Ultimately City Council made a motion of "no confidence" in Ed Boks' leadership in 2009 and demanded that he be fired. Finally Boks was forced to resign. Why did the Mayor appoint Ed Boks, a man with no college education and a bad track record? It seems a local billionaire offered Villaraigosa $10,000,000 if he would hire Boks, and the Mayor accepted.

The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club endorsed Assemblymember Lori Saldaña for County Supervisor but failed to take a position on whether to impose term limits on the Board of Supervisors. Supporters of the term-limit initiative, being sponsored by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), said the five Republican incumbents on the board are so entrenched only limiting their future terms will get them out. Opponents said that Democrats have historically opposed term limits and if they supported them for the Republican-dominated Board of Supervisors, they'd be perceived as hypocrites the next time they try to ease-them for the Democratic-controlled state legislature.

San Diego City Council candidate Steve Hadley is considered an underdog because he doesn't have the party connections, name recognition or donor base of his opponents. But he's got a lot of assets; as the chief of staff for the Councilmember he's running to replace, Donna Frye, he's got her support and that of the community organizers and activists he's worked with as part of her office. He's also got a compelling personal story; he grew up in the Seventh Day Adventist church, pushed the church towards greater acceptance of equality for women and Queers, then left the ministry to study law and work in politics.

Settlement between City of LA and Monterey Hills Investors LLC puts an end to the controversial residential development of 24 luxury homes on Elephant Hill in the community of El Sereno in Los Angeles.

The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club took two different tacks in its endorsements in City Council races at its regular meeting October 22. In District 6 they endorsed veteran politician Howard Wayne over Steve Hadley, chief of staff to incumbent Councilmember Donna Frye. In District 8 they endorsed the grass-roots Latino candidate, David Alvarez, over two better connected candidates from established local Latino political families: Felipe Hueso, older brother of incumbent Councilmember Ben Hueso; and Nick Inzunza, uncle of former Councilmember Ralph Inzunza.

Hmmm ... the police and government compile secret dossiers on people that make complaints! Yes this is America in 2009 but its is still run like Nazi Germany or Stalins Soviet Union, and we just think we have rights

When it comes to my yard, a middle ground is unachievable if it means a dead ground. My religion and moral value system require healthy greenery; which in turn, benefit the animals and insects who depend on my yard for sustenance.

On Friday, August 21, the Long Beach Coalition for Good Jobs and a Healthy Community filed suit against the City of Long Beach claiming the development of the 125-room Hotel Sierra at the Pike needs a new Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to assess the possible impact the hotel development will have on the environment and local communities.
“A few weeks ago, we spoke to City Council about this project with regard to the environmental, social, and economic impacts on our community. In response, a majority of the Council voted to postpone the vote to provide an opportunity for the community to voice its support for responsible development,” said CSULB Sociology Professor Gary Hytrek and Coalition Steering Committee Member.

$100 million in extra federal funding helps to save the nation's Section 8 housing program in Berkeley, Alameda, San Jose, Los Angeles and elsewhere! According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a whopping 15% of 2,400 Public Housing Authorities nationwide, are currently experiencing funding shortfalls in the Section 8 Housing Voucher Program! HUD is currently trying to release an additional $400 million to assist section 8 programs across the nation. See full list of troubled Public Housing Authorities, further below!

After all they are royalty,both Sheikh Sabah al Sabah of Kuwait and Queen Jane Harman of Venice, California,aren't they ? And now one of the Sheikh most loyal subjects and leader of the Kuwait orchestrated illegal Harman International NYSE pump and dump to defraud American small investors is dead.Just goes to show as that old saying goes dead men or dead subjects of the Sheikh can't tell tales.

Another victory for Hotel workers and Coalition in South Bay!
Led by dozens of members of the Long Beach Coalition for Good Jobs and a Healthy Community (LBC) who were in the crowd, with their concerns on whether the hotel would provide decent wages for its employees, they told the council to work for workers interests.
Urged on by a crowd of hotel worker's-rights supporters, the City Council on Tuesday voted 7-1 to continue for one week a vote that would move a proposed hotel at the Pike one step closer to approval.

South Central Farmers Return to City Hall!
Friday, June 12, 9:00 a.m. Press Conference at City Hall
Saturday, June 13, 6:00-11:30 p.m. Reunion at the Farm
LOS ANGELES--On Friday June 12, at 8:00 a.m. the South Central Farmers and their supporters will return to City Hall to demand fair and equitable treatment for South Central residents and Farmers in the face of continuing City privileges for developer Ralph Horowitz. The following day, Farmers and Farm supporters will hold a reunion on the third anniversary of the destruction of the Farm for all interested in restoring the South Central Farm.

The PBS documentary “Ask Not,” dealing with the human cost of the “don't ask, don't tell” policy that excludes open Queers from the U.S. military, will be shown nationwide on June 16 and in San Diego June 21 as part of the “Independent Lens” series. The show depicts individuals thrown out of the military under “don't ask, don't tell” and the Queer community's fight-back against the discriminatory policy. In a May 3 preview screening at the San Diego Public Library, activists working against “don't ask, don't tell” discussed why even progressive people who generally oppose America’s wars should be concerned about this issue.

In a crucial attempt to protect a densely populated Latino neighborhood in Los Angeles, environmental justice advocates and community residents filed an appeal in court on March 3, 2009, seeking to overturn a decision to build luxury homes on a fragile hillside in El Sereno. The development on Elephant Hill would endanger residents and strip the community of its last open space.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and his Lesbian daughter Lisa (pictured) led off the San Diego installment of "March Forth on March Fourth," a series of rallies and demonstrations held statewide on the eve of the California Supreme Court's oral hearings on the legal challenges to Proposition 8. Mayor Sanders endorsed same-sex marriage equality last year after deciding he couldn't tell his daughter that her relationship was less important than his.

UPLAND, California - January 26, 2008
Supporters of the human rights of immigrants and workers filled the Upland City Council chambers tonight to support speakers decrying injustices against Upland day laborers. The Minutemen, who are themselves responsible for many of these injustices, also arrived to address the council. And while the council may have been more receptive to their racist rhetoric than to our pleas for justice, we maintained the moral high ground and refused to retreat.

For 3 decades, LINDA PIERA-AVILA has been a passionate environmental, social justice, electoral reform and peace activist.
Now she is putting herself on the line and running for
Santa Monica City Council to put the public back into public service!

The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club voted September 25 to endorse Proposition 4 on the November 4 ballot in the city of San Diego, which would make the temporary ban on alcohol consumption at city beaches permanent. Opponents have argued that the ban is an attack on individual freedom, but the club rejected that argument and instead supported beach-area residents who say the ban has improved their quality of life.

Zenger’s-endorsed District 3 City Council candidate STEPHEN WHITBURN is the real deal: an experienced journalist and progressive who’s seen more of the world than San Diego and knows from government in other cities what works and what doesn’t. Don’t be fooled by an opponent who offers nothing but charm, geography and experience at taking orders.

Progressive San Diego City Council candidate Stephen Whitburn held a press conference September 7 to protest a new development proposal for the Hillcrest area that would erect two high-rise towers in a small-scale, intimate neighborhood, adding to traffic congestion and destroying the community's atmosphere. Developer Bruce Lightenberger, also interviewed, said he couldn't care less; he claims that as long as it meets existing zoning, he has an absolute right to build his project and neither the city nor the community can stop him.

San Diego City Council candidates Stephen Whitburn and Todd Gloria debated at the Hillcrest Town Council September 9. Both are openly Gay men and the debate was held in the center of San Diego's Queer community, but the candidates are otherwise quite different. Gloria emphasized his roots in San Diego and his extensive experience working as a staff member for elected officials, while Whitburn criticized Gloria's support from developers and said his own experience in journalism and the nonprofit sector would make him a better Councilmember.

August 29, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Police in full riot gear raided the “RNC Welcoming Committee” (which described itself as “an anarchist/anti-authoritarian organizing body preparing for the 2008 Republican National Convention”) This raid, referred to in the media as a “pre-emptive strike,” marked the beginning of a weekend of terror and intimidation brought down by the state on activists, organizers, protestors, and journalists throughout the four-day span of the Republican National Convention.

Citing an apparent conflict of interest, the South Central Farmers are demanding that California's State Attorney General investigate the sale of the site of the South Central Farm by Los Angeles city officials to local developer Ralph Horowitz for a trucking center for women's clothing manufacturer and retailer Forever 21.

At a time when the tens of millions of people who have the potential strength to stop this war are being pacified and corralled into a dead-end, what meaning does it have to call oneself “anti-war” if you are not protesting outside the convention? Anyone serious about stopping this whole direction of unjust war, torture and fascist repression should be in the streets.

Over 600 families, residents of the Wyvernwood Community in Boyle Heights, will gather today to voice their opposition to plans to demolish all 1178 units in the historic development and replace them with 4,400, primarily luxury units.

On July 2, Angelinos overcame the City-planned divides between rich and poor, cultural differences, and even broke through language barriers in the fight to restore the South Central Farm. When the developer proposed a diesel-spewing warehouse distribution center for the site, Farmers and Farm supporters threw a wrench in the cogs of City Hall and won a round in the fight to force Horowitz to do an Environmental Impact Report: they forced a twenty-one day delay for more public comments, and gained a glimmer of hope to restore the Farm. The fight between the people and developers' grip on City Hall could be decided by this Wednesday, July 23, 2008, the new deadline for public comments and the second hearing, a week or two later on the tenth floor of City Hall, in front of a small advisory board.

To many, it looked like the Struggle to Save the South Central Farm was defeated, a dream buried beneath the treads of the bulldozers that plowed the Farm under following the brutal invasion of an army of LA County Sheriffs crushed the resistor's encampment, turning the land from a liberated zone into an oppressive, occupied one. But all that could change. Here's why, and how you can help make it change.

The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club, which had endorsed moderate Democrat Scott Peters over progressive incumbent Mike Aguirre for city attorney in the primary campaign, reversed itself and voted to endorse Aguirre over Republican Jan Goldsmith at its June 26 meeting — but not before an intense debate in which the club president threatened to eject two members to keep the meeting orderly.

There is never a dull moment in Baltimore, Maryland. It seems as soon as HBO’s “The Wire” program left town, our Mayor, Sheila Dixon, became the subject of a state corruption probe. It’s all mostly about two fur coats and some travel trips with an ex-boyfriend. At the time, he was a developer doing business with the city. Does it add up to bribery or is it a tempest in a teapot? The Grand Jury holds the answer to that question. Stay tuned.

The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club endorsed former City Councilmember Floyd Morrow for Mayor at thier April 24 meeting — but Morrow was upstaged by City Councilmember and former mayoral candidate Donna Frye, who brought a volunteer in a fox costume to dramatize her contention that Proposition "C," a ballot proposal to allow the mayor to appoint the city's auditor, is "putting the fox in charge of the henhouse."

Though poorly attended, the candidates' debates at San Diego's Earth Day in Balboa Park April 20 offered useful insights into how the aspirants for mayor, third district city councilmember and city attorney might use their jobs to help protect the city's environment — or not.

Yesterday, April 9, 2008, thirteen (13) City Council members voted to amend LAMC 42.15 that regulates Venice Boardwalk. Noticeably missing from the text of the new ordinance were the words "FREE SPEECH ZONE". What does that mean to US?

The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club supported the city's corrupt political establishment and its handmaidens in organized labor and refused to support progressive Democrat Mike Aguirre for re-election as city attorney. Instead they endorsed moderate Democrat City Councilemmber Scott Peters even though Peters voted to renew the Boy Scouts of America's sweetheart lease on city land in 2001 and refused to commit to backing Aguirre in a general election against a Republican.

The predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club overwhelmingly endorsed three candidates in local school board races in a love-fest meeting February 28 that contrasted dramatically with their previous one on January, a knock-down, drag-out debate between incumbent city attorney Mike Aguirre and two of his challengers (one of whom has since left the race). They also rated openly Gay Republican Carl DeMaio "unacceptable" as a candidate for the San Diego City Council.

To his supporters, San Diego city attorney Mike Aguirre is an activist and truth-teller who'sone of the few local elected officials dealing seriously with the city's budget crises. To his opponents, ranging from the Right-wing San Diego Union-Tribune to the city employee unions, he's a loud-mouthed obstructionist who's dividing the city and costing it money. The controversy was on display January 24, when Aguirre and two of his election oppoennts debated at the predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club.

The inquiry by the state attorney general is investigating whether acting Orange County Sheriff Jack Anderson broke state law by appearing in uniform while trying to discourage the San Clemente City Council members from endorsing former sheriff's lieutenant and former candidate Bill Hunt

Home and Business Owners to protest at wine tasting event hosted by Century City based Bisno Development.
Residents are concerned by the public comments made by Councilwoman Marlen Garcia who stated at the Council meeting of September 19, 2007, that anyone who was not in agreement could “go to TJ (Tijuana).” Councilman Anthony Bejarano, when asked at the same meeting where the current occupants of the area would go, he replied “they can go to East Los Angeles."

San Francisco Assemblymember Mark Leno was the keynote speaker at the predominantly Queer San Diego Democratic Club's Freedom Banquet fundraiser October 6. He talked about the bill for marriage equality for same-sex couples he's pushed through the California legislature twice, the likelihood that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will veto it (as he did in 2005) and the various radical-Right initiative proposals to ban marriage for same-sex couples in California forever.

End The War LA, Code Pink, Iraq Veterans Against the War and others, call for a mass convergence at city hall at 9:15AM, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16TH at Los Angeles City hall to put pressure on our elected officials to pass an historic anti-war resolution.

March in defense of human rights, in response to the raids carried out on a scale meant to terrorize the workers and immigrants of Southern California. On Tuesday, 1,300 people were detained and in many cases torn from their childrens' arms.

The city's charges against an
immigration rights activist alleging he disrupted a
city council meeting were dismissed Monday after a
judge found that an attorney representing Costa Mesa
was not a public prosecutor.

This update provides a quick glimpse into how the organizing for the October 19-21 mobilization against the IMF/World Bank annual meetings is going. Read it to find out about our outreach activities, new endorsers of the mobilization, how to plug in, and more.

The charges of “disrupting” a city council proceeding stem from a free-for-all that broke out during a public comments session of the Jan. 3, 2006, Costa Mesa city council meeting after police, acting on Mayor Allan Mansoor’s orders to take an early recess, pulled Acosta away from the speaker’s podium and pushed him outside the council chambers before his three minute speaking limit had expired.

This update provides a quick glimpse into how the organizing for the October 19-21 mobilization against the IMF/World Bank annual meetings is going. Read it to find out about action plans, who has endorsed the mobilization till date, housing and convergence space, and more.

It’s a victory for Ruby ( De Vera), a Filipina, It is a victory for the Filipino Community!”
The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) Peping Baclig and the Echo Park Community Coalition (EPCC) Jack Vergara today express elation that De Vera was vindicated. JFAV and EPCC also hailed the decision of the Los Angeles City Council to award De Vera a settlement of $ 125,000 for her lawsuit against discrimination and injustice.
De Vera run for District 14 council office and came out 3rd place among 12 candidates in 2005. She later was fired as an office manager boss for “embarrassing his boss, Council Member Ed Reyes”, was awarded $ `125,000,00 settlement last week by the City of Los Angeles. The Philippine News correspondent Yong Chavez reported this event in this US wide weekly paper for August 22-28.

LANIC (Los Angeles National Impeachment Center) & PDLA (Progressive Dems of LA) strike again @ High Noon in Los Angeles. On Aug 17th a contingent of approximately 45 concerned citizens of LA went to the Los Angeles City Hall.

A rally at the L.A. city council will take place this Friday, August 17th, at 9:30 a.m. at L. A. City Hall near Temple & Main downtown. The council could pass a resolution to impeach Bush and Cheney if we show support.

They're trying to criminalize Mr. Acosta's speech," said Belinda Escobosa Helzer, an ACLU attorney representing him. "It's very unusual that they would decide to bring criminal charges for a person exercising their 1st Amendment right at an open City Council meeting."

"They're trying to criminalize Mr. Acosta's speech," said Belinda Escobosa Helzer, an ACLU attorney representing him. "It's very unusual that they would decide to bring criminal charges for a person exercising their 1st Amendment right at an open City Council meeting."

A growing coalition of Los Angeles Peace Groups including the Green Party of Caifornia and Progressive Democrats came together on June 19, 2007 to call on the Santa Monica City Council to pass an impeachment resolution. Over 90
people participated in the pro-Impeachment rally.

June 13, 2007: Today is the one-year anniversary of the eviction at the South Central Farm. A reunion was held just outside the now-barren farm space. Throughout the evening, the continued determination to restore the farm was emphasized repeatedly.

Without a mass mobilization of indignant citizen the atomic secrets buried in the caves and bunkers of the Berici Hills around Vicenza would have remained secreted below the loads of cement hastily poured over them. The concrete may have temporarily buried the evidence had not the U.S. military decided to extend their bases and expand these perfect underground storage spaces for more of their weapons of war.

More than 25,000 immigrants and their advocates marched Thursday to take back Macarthur Park after more than two weeks of meetings, hearings, plannings and filing of class action suits against the LAPD.
But the supposed to be an indignation rally against the ALPD was turned into a call for legalization for the nation's 12 million illegal immigrants. This came at the heels at the US Senate coming into a compromise for a supposed to be a “comprehensive immigration reform bill that will provide for a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants in the United States.

[Editors' note: this article includes several uncited quotations from today's LA Times article "Park rally renews call for rights." In addition, the claim of 20-25,000 people seems to us to be (unfortunately) wishful thinking. We note that the rally at the church was confined by police to one full city block, and the number of people assembled in the Park before the march arrived was a similar number. We ask all contributors to LA Indymedia to please clearly indicate any and all quotes from other sources, and be realistic in your crowd estimates. Thank you.]

Immigrants and their advocated returned to the streets for the first time since May Day with Latino elected officials in tow, escorted by the LAPD who piggy backed for “public relations” during the march/rally to erase police brutality.
More than 25,000 immigrant rights activists marched Thursday to Macarthur Park to again call for a path to citizenship for the nation's 12 million illegal immigrants. The Filipino contingent led by the Pilipino Workers Center and the AJLPP attended by scores of youth activists was very prominent in the march waving Filipino flags and charting MAKIBAKA, HUWAG MATAKOT! .
Waving Mexican, Salvadorian, Honduran, Filipino and American flags and signs reading "No to Deportation," and calling for genuine legalization, about 25,000 marchers gathered about 6 p.m. for a brief rally in front of Immanuel Presbyterian Church on Wilshire Boulevard before heading to the park several blocks away.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez are among those expected to join immigrant-rights activists Thursday for a march and rally to denounce the actions of Los Angeles riot police at a May Day rally at MacArthur Park.
Police Chief William Bratton, who will be at the LAPD's assembly area at today's rally, according to his office, told KPCC-FM on Wednesday that Deputy Chief Cayler "Lee" Carter, the ranking officer who was in MacArthur Park during the May 1 melee has decided to retire rather than continue on home duty pending an investigation.

If you oppose the LAPD extending its power over not just those human beings who do not qualify as citizens under the notion of the state, then this is the time to come out. Because if the police feel that they can brutalize geographically displaced human beings, reporters, the youth, and its progressive community then they will have no fear to come for those that remain.
This is the time to act to protect your own self.
LOS ANGELES, CA (CNS) -- A City Council task force charged with monitoring the police probe of the May Day melee at an immigration rally at MacArthur Park is scheduled to hold its first meeting today, Councilman Ed Reyes announced.

The mass public assault on the May 1st rally and a public raid on migrants at a shopping mall in Chicago shortly before May 1st mark a brutal and highly public escalation in the ruling class's war on migrants. Increased resistance like the upcoming May 17th march to MacArthur Park is exactly what the situation calls for.

Want-to-be president, Sen. Hillary “War Lite” Clinton (D-NY), recently gushed over U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). She said that “Pro-Surge” Mikulski had “paved” the way for her. Indeed, Mikulski has done a lot of paving, especially with respect to the manufacturing jobs lost on her watch. In addition, Mikulski persists in supporting funding for the Iraqi War. Now, it has been disclosed that she knew the Bush-Cheney Gang was lying about the war.

Want-to-be president, Sen. Hillary “War Lite” Clinton (D-NY), recently gushed over U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). She said that “Pro-Surge” Mikulski had “paved” the way for her. Indeed, Mikulski has done a lot of paving, especially with respect to the manufacturing jobs lost on her watch. In addition, Mikulski persists in supporting funding for the Iraqi War. Now, it has been disclosed that she knew the Bush-Cheney Gang was lying about the war.

The Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace (AJLPP)- National Executive Board vehemently condemns the unprovoked massive police attack by the LAPD/SWAT against the May 1.70,000 immigrants march-rally in Macarthur Park, Los Angeles last night at around 5;30 PM The reactionary forces trying to discourage immigrant rights mobilization that ran to tens of thousands, used 20-30 motorcycled cops to commence fascist attacks on the unsuspecting crowds at the corner of Westlake and Wilshire and at the Alvarado-Wilshire intersection. The police motorcycles ran through the Cuahatemoc dancers hitting even children and senior dancers of the Danza Azteca. This type of dispersal attack was used in Oakland demonstration in 200

The Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace (AJLPP)-Southern California vehemently condemns the unprovoked massive police attack by the LAPD/SWAT against the May 1.70,000 immigrants march-rally in Macarthur Park, Los Angeles last night at around 5;30 PM
The reactionary forces trying to discourage immigrant rights mobilization that ran to tens of thousands, used 20-30 motorcycled cops to commence fascist attacks on the unsuspecting crowds at the corner of Westlake and Wilshire and at the Alvarado-Wilshire intersection. The police motorcycles ran through the Cuahatemoc dancers hitting even children and senior dancers of the Danza Azteca. This type of dispersal attack was used in Oakland demonstration in 2003.

On March 19, 2007, the Baltimore City Council unanimously approved a Resolution condemning the Iraqi War, the lies that got us into it, George W. Bush’s insane “Surge,” and demanded the troops be “safely” withdrawn from that conflict. On that same night, a Peace Rally was held at St. Vincent de Paul RC Church. The Rev. Heber Brown III said: “It’s time for us to raise hell for peace in our churches.” The event was sponsored by the local UPJ group.

In a Maywood City Council Meeting on Tuesday February 27, 2007 a youth whom the police had brutalized and who had missing teeth due to police brutality. His only crime was being witness to his neighbor being beat by cops, and was himself beat after he asked the cops for their badge numbers. He spoke out: "I'm not scared of gang members, I'm scared of the cops, they are the biggest gang."

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa promised to make LA a NoKill City. He hired Ed Boks as the new General Manager. In his first year Boks has failed to reduce the euthanasia rate. Fewer animals made it out alive, fewer were adopted. What went wrong? And what is the Mayor going to do about it?

The USA federal government is on its war path. Let us snatch the hood from the technological monster and expose it, and let the people slit its throat or throats. I have a video demanding an end to endentured Servitude

The year 2006 was a fruitful and a meaningful year for Filipino World War II Veterans and their advocates. The Justice for Filipino American Veterans (JFAV) started the year with a collective action and ended it with a Christmas celebration.
JFAV was formed in December 16, 1998 in Los Angeles. It took over from the December 7 Movement (D7M) that started the veterans movement gfor recogntion, justice and equity campaign with the first mass action infront of the Westwood Federal building on Decmber 7, 1993.
Now JFAV is composed of 32 youth and student organizations, 25 community organizations and 5 veterans organizations based in Southern California and a network all over the United States.
We in JFAV take this opportunity not only to report our activities and greet our activist and advocates a new year, but to thank everybody for a year well done and accomplished!

Sunday December 17 - More than 300 demonstrators were arrested in the Danish capital on Saturday after violent clashes between police and youths who were protesting against the planned closure of a youth centre in the city. "Ungdomshuset-The Youth House Stays"

"As an officer, I'd hate to have to worry about getting a ticket in the mail when all I'm trying to do is my job," - a lame ass excuse why cops should be allowed to speed and run red lights with out being questioned

U.S. District Court Judge Robert Jones issued an injunction prohibiting enforcement of a City Council ordinance passed in July that prohibits "providing food or meals to the indigent for free or for a nominal fee" in a city park and defines indigent as a person whom a reasonable ordinary person would believe to be entitled to public assistance

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th
The Lynwood City Council will vote this Tuesday on a proposal to build an NFL stadium. Homes and Businesses along Atlantic Blvd, Imperial HWY, Fernwood Ave, and Wright Rd would be demolished if this project is approved. Many property owners of the affected area are still not informed about this issue. Those who do know only found out recently. This decision would destroy a huge chunk of a city that is only 4.9 square miles. The newly constructed Firebaugh High School and Vista Continuation School will be torn down. This is a racist move by an already currupt city council.

This letter was sent out a few days ago. It shows the contempt the Rosemead City Council has for its residents, to sneak a controversial proposal onto the agenda, after the opponents have left. Authored by Zebra.

“Schutzhund” style training involves a high tolerance for dog abuse including the deliberate hanging or “lynching” of dogs, swinging, slamming, kicking, etc. These methods are employed by the police, sheriffs, military and private dog trainers and academies.
Browse this web site to discover how you can get involved in putting an end to these practices.
http://www.stoplynching.com/index.html

The media and the politicians would have you believe that the struggle of the South Central Farmers has gone and disappeared! We have re-organized and are back on the scene to fight injustice and the lack of consideration for the South Central Farmers by the City of Los Angeles and its Politicians.

L.A. City Council To Abide By 'Rules Of Decorum'
People addressing the Los Angeles
City Council will have to speak their mind without
using profanity, being too loud or making offensive
comments, according to "rules of decorum" approved
Tuesday.

Ratcheting up restraints on public comment, the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved new rules of ''decorum'' designed to squelch offensive and disruptive behavior at council meetings, ranging from foul language and racial slurs to singing, whistling, foot-stamping and other boisterous conduct.

We should not be under any illusions that we live in an open and democratic society, at least not in the 9th district or South Central Los Angeles. Let us strip away the mythology, the propaganda, and the "decorum". Its tough to survive in South Central Los Angeles, even if you call it something else..

U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) is a politician that regularly sucks up to the powerful Israel Lobby. Fortunately, she has an opponent in this year’s primary, Jonathan Tasini, who is calling her on her shameless behavior. In Baltimore, Mayor Martin O’Malley, who wants to be governor of Maryland, is following in Clinton’s footsteps. When the Israel Lobby called a rally, on 07/25/06, to boost support for Israel, O’Malley showed up to do its bidding.

Home-grown bigots are nothing new in America or Pennsylvania. Every city of any size has its particular variety spewing its brand of ignorance-based poison and racist nonsense.
Then there's Hazleton, Pa., where last night they made hate official city policy.

The world is literally watching. Media worldwide have covered the case of the South Central Farm, the largest urban garden in the United States, the efforts of the city's elites to drive the farmers from the land, and the farmer's remarkable resistance. On June 13th, the County moved to evict, concentrating a massive police presence in the area to uproot the resistor's encampment on the land.
The South Central Farm arose from the ashes of the 1992 Los Angeles rebellion, and stands as a symbol of hope to millions. Despite the eviction, the struggle continues, with a court hearing this week challenging the City's sale of the land to a private developer.
When the Los Angeles City Council sold the 14 acre plot called the South Central Farm to developer Ralph Horowitz, they sold land they didn’t own.

The Minuteman Junta that controls the Costa Mesa City Council (Mayor Allan Mansoor, Eric Bever and Gary Monahan) call allegations that they pander to extremists the equivelent of the Three Little Pigs fairy tale and "silly garbage baloney," but local residents who marched through Costa Mesa July 8 feel otherwise.

An essay regarding the South Central Farm and how it is helping to ease gang and inter-ethnic tensions. Also addresses the farm's ability to allow the community to interact with Chicano and Mexican culure, despite the fact that the farm is not anywhere near Mexico.

Willie Nelson, Darryl Hannah, Martin Sheen, Danny Glover, Joan Baez, Julia Butterfly-Hill support farmers in the struggle to save the nation's largest urban farm.
Darryl Hannah appears on Larry King Live with Willie Nelson to show footage of eviction. Danny Glover calls eviction a Day of Mourning, a Day of Shame

LOS ANGELES, June 3, 2006 -- Making multiple false claims to the public about his past and committing perjury in 2001 about his qualification on an application for his present job may just be the tip of a huge iceberg for the LAPD-endorsed Delgadillo.

We, members of the Autonomous Peoples Collective (APC) and the Eastside Café (ESC), as subscribers to the Sixth Declaration of the Lacandon Jungle and the "Other Campaign" denounce the imminent eviction of over 300 families who currently work the 14 acres of land considered the largest urban farm in the U.S., located in South Central Los Angeles, California.

Santa Cruz draconian law against begging has been ruled unconstitutional by a Federal court. Now the City is going to fix it, but activists say the entire law should be overhauled or the City would be subjected to more lawsuits. The City is dragging its heels on making any real changes.

Last month, the Trust for Public Land negotiated purchase option with developer Ralph Horowitz that depended on the City coming up with a $5M match for $6M raised by the South Central Farm. Five days ago, the City reneged on the deal. Friday, with three days left, the Farmers and their supporters, ever hopeful, demanded that Mayor Villaraigosa step up to support the Farm.

The South Central Farmers and their supporters are gearing up for busy week of actions to 'save the farm' . The South Central Farm, at 14-acres, is believed to be the largest urban farm in the U.S., and thrives in one of the poorest areas of the country.

Known as the largest urban farm in the country, South Central Farm provides food and sustenance to some of the most underserved residents in Los Angeles.
"The farm," says DiCaprio, "holds a remarkable array of biodiversity and, because of its size, functions as a carbon sink, a natural environment that stores more carbon than it releases into the atmosphere, and this helps reduce global warming. We have to start acknowledging that every action counts."

Over 80 communities in Switzerland have insisted on stopping GATS-liberalization for social, ecological and democratic reasons.. In Europe, over 1000 communities have declared themselves GATS-free zones.

Costa Mesa is a microcosm of California. This coastal city has become the epicenter of an immigration issue that threatens to divide our local communities and the nation. Costa Mesa also depicts a vivid portrayal of how radical anti-immigrant groups politicize local governments. Humberto Caspa writes for La Opinion and is an adjunct professor at CSULB.

Jim Gilchrist and his Minutemen proved that they can retreat from battle on a minute's notice by withdrawing Friday night from the front lines of Costa Mesa's immigration war started by Minuteman Mayor, Allan Mansoor.

"In those times, people were energized, and they were more intellectual. People were processors of information, whereas today you don't see a lot of that." -- David Sanchez, former leader, The Brown Berets

Let me be clear that I know nothing more about the internal workings of the South Central Farm than
the L.A. Weekly reported in its March 15 muckraking article, "Bushel of
Complaints" by Daniel Hernandez. So I've borrowed those facts and added a somewhat different
spin. Here's my version.

A tiny portion of Minuteman founder Jim Gilchrist's claimed 240 million followers made a surprise showing this Saturday at a Costa Mesa community forum on constitutional rights and immigration law.
They were welcomed by Coyotl Tezcalipoca of the Colectivo Tonantzin, which sponsored the event primarily with Costa Mesa's local immigrant population (which has been the target of hate and harassment from the city's Minuteman Junta) in mind, but was happy to discover what it hopes is a new-found interest by the border vigilantes in civilized behavior and basic human rights.

This weekend the LA Times issued a deadly editorial attack on the South Central Farm, justifying the destruction of the land and the community, overtly using the theme of "property rights" to do so. Such assessments cannot be allowed to hold sway. Too much is at stake, for all of us.

In its Saturday editorial, the Los Angeles Times reduced virtually all the civic concerns of the historically neglected South Central to “niceties” and condemned a swath of the district to being a “concrete-and-asphalt” wasteland,“ "a seemingly endless sweep” of “industrial warehouses, packing plants, and junkyards.” It proclaimed that developer Ralph Horowitz must triumph, and the South Central Farm must be razed. The Times was wrong.

Reeling from pointed public comments and revealing testimony from police Chief John Hensley, Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor tried but failed to silence fellow City Council member Katrina Foley as she attacked his proposal to use police as immigration law eLooking upnforcers under the auspices of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau of the U.S. Department of Justice.

REPOST...The suit was filed by the ACLU of Southern California on behalf of Benito Acosta, a 24-year-old Costa Mesa resident and Orange Coast College student who also uses the name Coyotl Tezcatlipoca. It claims city officials violated Acosta's rights to free speech, equal protection and due process by silencing him and by using force to restrain him, eject him from the council meeting, and arrest him.

“We filed this lawsuit
to help ensure that the Costa Mesa government
maintains a forum for all types of discussion and
debate and that residents do not fear that if they are
opposed to something they will be arrested and beaten
for speaking their mind.”

This article describes the press conference held February 2 by Citizens for Constitutional Rights and contains information not in mainstream press accounts, in particular about charges of a Neo-Nazi influence on the Costa Mesa City Council majority. There are also video clips of various members of the CCR speaking.

Dan Peelman, an attorney with Jones and Mayer, a Fullerton-based law firm, and an "independent prosecutor" on contract with the City of Costa Mesa, opened up an investigation Friday into allegations contained within a "letter of complaint" that was filed against Mayor Allan Mansoor with Kimberly Hall Barlow, the City Attorney, on Tuesday, January 17th.

The minutes of the January 3rd meeting of the Costa Mesa City Council were recently posted online by the City Clerk. Not only do they state the meeting began at 6:00 pm, but they record that Mayor Allan Mansoor declared a "recess" at 6:58 pm. This confirms what investigative journalist John Earl, myself, and others have been saying all along: that Mansoor abruptly cut off Coyotl Tezcatlipoca about 40 seconds before his time was up and he did it roughly two minutes before the 7:00 pm "deadline."

The following "letter of complaint" was delivered during the public comments section of the Tuesday, January 17, 2006 meeting of the Costa Mesa City Council. It was filed on behalf of the Tonantzin Collective.

Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor believes that America is “a nation of laws.” That’s why, he says, the city’s police should be first in the nation to directly help deport “illegal aliens.” But conduct by Monsoor at two recent Costa Mesa city council meetings–-revealed
on video logs from two separate sources–-raises questions about his ability to correctly and impartially uphold the law, including respecting basic First Amendment rights. Recent incidents also demand an examination of the constitutionality of Costa Mesa Municipal Codes related to public speech.

In the picture below, taken from video footage shot by a Minuteman supporter at the Tuesday, January 3, 2006 meeting of the Costa Mesa City Council, Police Chief John Hensley is ordering his men to arrest Coyotl Tezcalipoca for allegedly disrupting a public meeting. The only problem, however, is that a few moments before he made this order, Mayor Allan Mansoor declared twice over the microphones that the meeting was in recess. Did Hensley order his men to make an illegal arrest?

Zach de la Rocha, Members of Ozomatli, Quetzal and others join 350 Families in South L.A. to Defend Community Farm
Concert to save the community farm @ 41st & Alameda.
Nov. 22nd event will mobilize the community in Support of the South Central Farmers

Save Our State stood proud with swastika flag waving white supremacists at a rally yesterday in Laguna Beach. The group claims not to be racist, but nazi skinheads made up the majority of their contigency at the protest. Please bear that in mind as you read the article below. I will post pictures of the rally within the next few days.

On June 30, 2005, the Court of Appeal reversed the Superior Court’s order granting the preliminary injunction. The South Central Farmers Feeding Families have 40 days from June 30 to petition the California Supreme Court to review the Court of Appeal’s ruling. If the Supreme Court declines to hear the case, the urban garden will be demolished in about three months. Concerned supporters our community is devastated by this result and we need your support. In the same manner that the Zapatista in Chiapas are being attack so will we.
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has already begun to dismantle our leadership through low intensity cointel-pro strategies.
We need you all to call and write letters to the following people we have attached.....

The search for the flashlight angered Dang's attorney, who called it political retaliation for Dang's open criticism of police tactics during the demonstration. "It's seems bizarre," said attorney B. Kwaku Duren.

Members of the Los Angeles Police Department praised Councilman Dennis Zine as his motion regulating the sale of mini motorcycles - commonly known as “pocket bikes” - gained the final approval of the city council.

The case, People of California v. Naui Huitzilopochtli (No. A61170), is currently scheduled to go to trial on the morning of Tuesday, April 26, 2005 at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-47, Orange County Superior Court, 700 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, California. As many people as possible are being encouraged to attend this trial.

A few months ago, the country heard the Democrats' mantra "Anybody but Bush." On January 9, 2005 at the Citizens for a Humane Los Angeles mayoral convention at Beverly Garland's Holiday Inn in North Hollywood, one group of animal rights and welfare advocates supported the "Anybody but Hahn" theory while another argued "Vote your Heart."

Next City council mtg is this JANUARY 3RD. Please come out and support,
since this tireless group of demonstrators could use some support and
inspiration from fellow anti-racist, anti-fascist activists.

Dr. Claud Anderson will be in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday, December 14, 2004, at the Power of Love Hall, which is located at 1430 West Manchester, Los Angeles, CA, at 7:00 p.m. Please attend. This is a VERY important conference concerning the creation of economic wealth for Black America...PowerNomics.

"I'm voting my conscience on Nov. 2; I'm voting for John Kerry....His policy proposals involve vision -- like alternative energy, more accessible health care, and funding all those children who have been left behind by the Bush administration."

Animal advocates continue to protest Los Angeles Mayor Hahn's appointment of Guerdon H. Stuckey as the General Manager of Animal Services and the city's lack of commitment to the no-kill animal shelter goal.

Dear Friends,
Your fax could not only kill two birds of injustice with one
stone, it could birth two birds of justice in one nest:
It could assist and empower exploited low-income neighborhoods
in California.

Currently there is a battle being waged between developers and local grass-roots organizations to preserve the Toluca Subway Tunnel and Belmont Graffiti Art Hall of Fame from becoming a large scale apartment complex. This site has been used in countless films and music videos over the decades.

Members of the band Oingo Boingo will be attending May 17 City Council hearing to show their support.
A growing number of celebrities are lending their support to save the venerable rock venue from conversation to a condo, retail, office complex. David Lee Roth, Slash (ex- Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver), Jackson Browne, Billy Idol, Carrie Hamilton, W.A.S.P. and many others have lent their help and support.

In 1999 the city of Huntington Beach awared a long term monopoly concession to the Coca Cola company in return for millions of dollars and annual payments. But Coke is complicit in the killings of labor organizers and in destroying and polluting water supplies abroad.

Over 500 people eager for news of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela came to hear Nora Castañeda, President of the Women’s Development Bank, speak on “Venezuela: Creating a Caring Economy” at Immanuel Presbyterian Church.

Last night LA 32 Neighborhood Council voted to send a resolution to City Council regarding the deveopment of Elephant Hill (located off Collis St. in El Sereno). Here is an update from community organizer Elva Yanez.

Snubbing an imminent appellate court ruling, Raymond Theatre developers choose to “build at their own risk,” moving ahead with a March 15 project Design Review. City officials, expecting record-breaking crowds, change venues for what may be the final hearing in the 16-year battle to save historic Pasadena theatre. Friends of the Raymond Theatre prepare to take legal action to stop demolition, while supporters gear up to block bulldozers if necessary.

Action Alert!
The Arts as Collateral Damage
DON'T LET THE BURGHERS OF LOS ANGELES GRIND THE ARTS INTO
MAD-COW HAMBURGER.
TAKE ACTION, NOW!
Everyone receiving this Email has been positively impacted by The City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department (CAD). You've attended events funded by CAD; seen art works that would otherwise never have existed; perhaps received a grant to make or present art; benefited by services and art made by organizations funded by CAD; and maybe even fought a good fight with or against them. You have certainly benefited from their efforts.

LAPD investigation of police misconduct at anti-war protests. Near the end of this article, the author mentions a possible meeting between LAPD and protesters. If anyone has information about this meeting, please pass it along.

That's not always how police were meant to function. Indeed, urban policing came into being in the 1820s, when Sir Robert Peel formed the British "bobbies" precisely to shield protesters from a military that was violently putting down peaceful demonstrations of the unemployed, rallying for jobs. But today, local police are being drawn ever more fully into the endless global war on terror. Who will protect the dissenters now

On Feb. 18, seven members of the Los Angeles City Council voted "yes" today after Eric Garcetti eloquently introduced the No War In Iraq resolution which was seconded by Ruth Galanter. The only problem at City Council today was IT NEEDED 8 VOTES TO PASS! The seven voting "yes"---Cindy Miscikowski, Ed Reyes, Nate Holden, Janice Hahn, Ruth Galanter, Tom LaBonge and Eric Garcetti------needed an eighth vote. Please join us City Council again on Friday, Feb. 21 10:00 a.m. City Hall Chambers for what could be a historic day if we get the votes!

Long Beach says NO TO WAR! On Saturday, February 15th, the International City, Long Beach California, joins New York, Los Angeles, London, Tokyo, Paris, Berlin and other cities around the country and around the world in marching against war.

Both locally and globally, campaigns to stop water privatization are gaining momentum. In California, there was a big victory against the Cadiz proposal to subsidize a private company to tap native underground Mojave desert water and sell it back to the public.

In the face of growing public opposition and a divided Congress, President George W. Bush continued a fanatical drive towards war with Iraq pushing a bipartisan resolution giving him free reign to launch unilateral military action. Despite captiulation by some leaders of Congress, members of Congress are mounting a campaign reflecting the overwhelming calls and e-mails that have swamped their offices from constituents saying no to war.

On September 24, 2002, at 5:30 p.m., Santa Monica City Hall, 1685 Main Street, join with civil rights and human rights organizations in protesting a proposed ordinance to make criminals out of private citizens who feed the hungry in Santa Monica.

“Contract, Yes! Government intervention, No!” was the message of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), the AFL-CIO, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and many mayors at rallies up and down the West Coast, Aug. 12. Thousands took to the streets in protest of a threat by the Bush administration to take over ports militarily in the event that the union decides to strike.

This is the press release for the Saturday demonstration. Forever 21 can rake in $400 million this year, but the people who make the clothes are paid sub-minimum. If this rubs you the wrong way, show up and protest.

OK, these pictures are old, from August, but I'm poor and couldn't afford to develop them until now! They are from the protest of the nazi recruitment show at the Shack. The yuppie nazi groups American Patrol and the California Coalition for Immigrant Reform will be protesting for racism in Anaheim Dec. 4 and 8, something that needs to be counterprotested!

OK, these pictures are old, from August, but I'm poor and couldn't afford to develop them until now! They are from the protest of the nazi recruitment show at the Shack. The yuppie nazi groups American Patrol and the California Coalition for Immigrant Reform will be protesting for racism in Anaheim Dec. 4 and 8, something that needs to be counterprotested!

Trauma is born By US all: Terrorism.
[(Posted on many IndyMedia sites around the world and in the US; (plus other web sites and forums); and sent to 2,000 activists, newspapers, and organizations (people); plus 500 in United States Federal Government; and 150 or so in local (Seattle) government: September 5th, 2001.).)].
http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=6504&group=webcast

Over 125 local activists rallied in Balboa Park Sunday, August 19 to demand that the city stop supporting the anti-Queer, anti-atheist Boy Scouts of America by giving them 18.5 acres of city parkland for a nominal $1 per year. The Scouts' leases expire in 2007 and 2008, but the Scouts and their supporters on the current City Council want to renew them now.

San Diego's Redistricting Commission finally approved a map for new City Council districts August 22 — but only because Commission chair Ralph Pesqueira reluctantly broke a deadlock and cast a deciding fifth vote for a plan that puts the Sea World amusement park in environmentalist Councilmember Donna Frye's district.

On Monday, July 23 the San Diego City Council voted unanimously to commend the San Diego Police Department, County Sheriff's Department, Highway Patrol, Harbor Police and FBI for a job well done in creating a police-state atmosphere in San Diego during the biotech convention June 24-27, keeping down the number of protesters and profiling people based on their clothing choices and anti-corporate T-shirts. Picture shows a line of some of the police officers who attended the meeting to receive this honor.

Full text of the resolution passed by the San Diego City Council unanimously July 23 honoring the various police jurisdictions and city agencies for keeping the number of anti-biotech protesters low and maintaining order during the BIO 2001 convention June 24-27. [Posted by Mark Gabrish Conlan of Zenger's Newsmagazine, who transcribed it from his tape of the City Council meeting.]

San Diego's Redistricting Commission hoped a report from voting rights consultant Bruce Cain would give them a definitive answer on whether the federal Voting Rights Act required them to put all of the City Heights neighborhood, many of whose residents are people of color, in a single City Council district even if this means breaking up the concentration of Queer voters in the current District 3. But Cain's report was inconclusive.

The San Diego City Council on July 23 responded to a public referendum petition to put its controversial ban on drinking on city beaches to a public vote. Opponents of the ban focused on the $180,000 it would cost to add the issue to the March 5, 2002 election. Supporters said that's a drop in the bucket compared to the costs of additional police to patrol the beaches and prevent alcohol-related crime.

San Diego's Medical Marijuana Task Force, formed to advise the City Council on how to implement Proposition 215, had its second meeting July 20 — but the panel has to deal with the long-standing distrust of the city and the police by medical-marijuana activists. A controversial arrest and handcuffing of a woman in her 60's and her seizure-prone son was discussed.

The independent commission redrawing San Diego's City Council districts is considering two maps — one which keeps the city's Queer vote concentrated in one district, one which splits it in order to create a district that might elect a third person of color to the Council. The controversy highlights differences of interest between Queers and people of color, between working-class and poor people and small business owners, and between minorities that are recognized in federal civil rights law and ones that aren't.

After keeping the populace in Riverside in suspense for a week, the City Council voted unamiously in closed session last Tuesday to appeal the arbitrator's ruling regarding the firing of former Riverside Police Department sergeant Gregory Preece, in superior court.

Last week, Riverside Police Department Russ Leach promoted nine men, including two men of color and two white sergeants who sued the city citing reverse discrimination, and forced a former police chief into retirement.

3 Members of Black Autonomy COPWATCH, received 30, 60 days, community service and court costs instead of 6 months to 18 months in jail. This is an outrage and listeners of WRFG 89.3 FM heard details from the reasearch of Paul Hays and the Messenger: A publication finacialy aided by The AFL-CIO, UNITE and Atlanta Labor Solidarity Network especially. The interview on Radio Free Georgia was on Nightwatchandwas10minutes ThankIfini

California's state attorney general bill Lockyer issued an ultimatum to Riverside's City Council: sign an agreement to reform the police department or he'll see them in court. Mayor Ron Loveridge urged the council to sign but council member Ed Adkison says he'll have to think about it.